OTAGO BATS AGAIN

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 596, 23 February 1929, Page 13

OTAGO BATS AGAIN

CANTERBURY ALL OUT FOR 300 PLUNKET SHIELD MATCH Press Association DUNEDIN. Friday. The PI unket Shield match, Otago v. Canterbury, was resumed at Carisbrook this morning in ideal weather. The wicket and outfield were in excellent condition. When stumps were drawn last night Roberts was 39, and Allen seven. Dickinson opened to-day with a no-ball, but with the last ball of the same over dismissed Roberts, Galland taking an excellent catch in the slips. Eastman took up the attack from the other end, and neither the newcomer, Jacobs, nor Allen, was comfortable. With just half an hour gone, Jacobs was caught at cover by Eastman. Then Merrett and Burns their wickets in quick succession, the board showing 242 for nine. Powell and Cunningham carried on quietly, passing Otago’s score. Alloo made frequent changes in an endeavour to finalise the innings. Otago’s fielding was nippy. When 300 was reached Cunningham started to run, but was sent back. He was unable to get there, however, before Heenan had his bails off. Otago opened its second innings at 12.30 p.m., with Shepherd and H. C. Alloo batting. Newman and Cunningham opened the attack. Shepherd gave a hot chance to Harris when he was four, but continued on in a merry mood till lunch, when the score stood at 35. YESTERDAY S PLAY Although the combination of Merritt and the Canterbury wicketkeeper, Burns, had a disastrous effect on the early stages of Otago’s first innings the Dunedin men rose to the occasion in the afternoon, and courageous and hard hitting brought the innings total up to 273 runs. For all that, however, Otago has a stiff, uphill fiht ahead of it, and it is almost certain that Auckland will win the Shield on averages. against Canterbury to-day in the final Plunket Shield match, the Dunedin men rose to the occasion in the afternoon, and courageous and hard hitting brought the innings total up to 273 runs. For all that, however, Otago has a stiff, uphill fight ahead of it, and it is almost certain that Auckland will win the Shield on averages. Nearly 500 runs were scored yesterday, the rate of scoring being in marked contrast to other Shield games this season. Winning the toss on a first-class Carisbrook wicket, Otago at once decided to bat. Burns, the Canterbury wicketkeeper, recalled memories of Rowntree’s great performance in the match against Auckland by getting